US2009092140A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for providing a hierarchical structure for routing

38
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 9, 2007Filed: Oct 9, 2007Published: Apr 9, 2009
Est. expiryOct 9, 2027(~1.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John F. GibbonsNeal A. ShackletonMichael Satterlee
H04L 45/586H04L 45/50H04L 45/04H04L 45/42
38
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a hierarchical structure for routing over packet networks are disclosed. The method first receives one or more packets from at least one customer endpoint device with a Customer Edge (CE) functionality, wherein said one or more packets are destined for a destination node. The method locates a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting an interface specific routing table. The method then forwards said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for providing a hierarchical structure for routing over packet networks, comprising:
 receiving one or more packets from at least one customer endpoint device with a Customer Edge (CE) functionality, wherein said one or more packets are destined for a destination node;   locating a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting an interface specific routing table; and   forwarding said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interface specific routing table is populated with at least one interface specific route preference. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference is provided by a customer. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference is provided by a network service provider. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference provided by said network service provider is dynamically updated. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 locating a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting a virtual route forwarding table if a route is not found in said interface specific routing table; and   forwarding said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route found in said virtual route forwarding table.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said destination node is part of a virtual private network (VPN). 
   
   
       8 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing a hierarchical structure for routing over packet networks, comprising:
 receiving one or more packets from at least one customer endpoint device with a Customer Edge (CE) functionality, wherein said one or more packets are destined for a destination node;   locating a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting an interface specific routing table; and   forwarding said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route.   
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein said interface specific routing table is populated with at least one interface specific route preference. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference is provided by a customer. 
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference is provided by a network service provider. 
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference provided by said network service provider is dynamically updated. 
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 locating a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting a virtual route forwarding table if a route is not found in said interface specific routing table; and   forwarding said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route found in said virtual route forwarding table.   
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein said destination node is part of a virtual private network (VPN). 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for providing a hierarchical structure for routing over packet networks, comprising:
 means for receiving one or more packets from at least one customer endpoint device with a Customer Edge (CE) functionality, wherein said one or more packets are destined for a destination node;   means for locating a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting an interface specific routing table; and   means for forwarding said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said interface specific routing table is populated with at least one interface specific route preference. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference is provided by a customer. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference is provided by a network service provider. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one interface specific route preference provided by said network service provider is dynamically updated. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for locating a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting a virtual route forwarding table if a route is not found in said interface specific routing table; and   means for forwarding said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route found in said virtual route forwarding table.

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